Ram-adjustment mechanism for a press



C. H. TRIMBLE RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENTOR CHARLES H TRIMBLE ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1963 Filed Dec. 5, 1960 Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. TRIMBLE 3,106,113

RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A PRESS Filed Dec. 5, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES H. TRIM BLE ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. TRIMBLE 3,106,113

RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A PRESS Filed Dec. 5, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR CHARLES H. TRIMBLE A? f. )mea ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. TRIMBLE RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A PREss 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CHARLES H. TRIMBLE Filed Dec. 5, 1960 ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. TRIMBLE n 3,106,113

RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FoR A PRESS Filed Dec. 5, 1960 6 sheets-sheet 5 n ,3| es 83 .l Qi 8| 89 ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1963 c. H. TRIMBLE RAM-ADJUSTMENT MEcHANIsM FOR A PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 5, 1960 INVENTOR CHARLES H. TRIMBLE /Q A MMM ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,106,113 RAM-ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A PRESS Charles H. Trimble, Winston-Salem, N.C., assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 73,627 11 Claims. (Cl. 78-1) 'llhis invention relates to a ram-adjustment mechanism for a press, and more particularly to a press having facilities for adjusting the ram relative to the bed.

In presses of the type wherein the working stroke of the ram is constant, it is `frequently desirable to adjust the rest position of the ram relative to the bed according to a dimension of a piecepart. This renders it necessary to use a micrometer or a similar gaging instrument for determining -the size of the piecepart. In an operation independent `from the gaging operation, .the ram is adjusted relative to the bed according to the measurement 'of the piecepart. Even when only a stew pieceparts are to be manufactured, the delay resulting from the separa-te steps of gaging the piecepart and adjusting the ram accordingly is costly, and when pieceparts are to be manufactured in large quantities, such delay presents a serious problem.

An object of this invention is to provide an new and improved press.

Another object of this invention is to provide a press having means for simultaneously gaging the dimension of a piecepart and adjusting the ram relative to the bed according to the gaged dimension.

A further object of this invention resides in a press having piecepart gaging means mounted to the ram for sensing a dimension of the piecepart and at the same time adjusting the nam relative to the bed.

An additional object of this invention resides in the provision of facilities for adjusting the ram of a press relative to the bed in accordance with the `dimension of a p-iecepart, together with a :control circuit for permitting operation of the press only when the ram is properly adjusted.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a staking press having a bed and a constant stroke ram provided with la screw and nut mechanism for adjusting the rest position of the ram relative to the bed. Prior to operation of the press, an operator will place a piecepart in a gaging device and actuafte the screw and nut mechanism to set the position of the ram with respect to the bed. Indicating means are rendered effective by the gaging means when the ram has been adjusted properly according to a dimension of the piecepant. At the same time the gaging means conditions a control :circuit for subsequently controlling the operation of the press. After removing the piecepart from the gaging means and mounting it on a mandrel that is xed to the bed, the operator closes a switch to complete the conditioned circuit, thereby initiating a staking operation. At the completion of the staking operation the control circuit functions -to preven-t operation of the press until after the next piecepart has been gaged and the ram properly adjusted.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a press having a bed, a ram, and means'for adjusting the rest position of the ram relative to the bed according to the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the press shown in FIG. 1 showing the position of the ram prior t0 a staking operation, together with gaging means provided on the ram for conditioning a control circuit including indicating means and press control means when the ram vis properly adjusted;

3,106,113 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 rice FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view, similar to FIG. 2, of the press showing the position of the ram after a staking operation, particularly illustrating the position assumed by a drive mechanism including a pneumatic cylinder and piston for actuating a doubleatoggle linkage to advance the ram into the staking position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the press shown in the other ligures, showing a plurality of tool .carriers slidably mounted on the ram and surrounding a piecepart, together with a showing of a handle and gear drive for moving the tool carriers;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that `depicted in FIG. 4 wherein the handle an-d the gear drive have advanced the tool carriers from the piecepart, thus exposing a mandrel that is lixed to the bed;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 3 showing a screw and nut mechanism for adjusting the rest position of the ram;

FIG. 7 is a partial top view of an arm `attached t-o the ram for cooperation with the gaging means to condition a control circuit when the ram is adjusted properly;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view takon on line 8 8- of FIG. 6 showing the mandrel supponting Ia plurality of piecepar-t-s that have been staked -to form an'assem-bly;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional lview taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 4 showing the tool carrier advancing handle and a locking pin mechanism for conditioning the control circuit for the staking operation when the tool carriers are closed;

FIG. l0 is a schematic diagram of .the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the press;

SFIG. :1l is a perspective Iview of a flange yand a waveguide that may be assembled by the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ange and the waveguide lthat have been assembled by the staking press illustrated in the other views.

Referring first in detail to FIG. lll of the drawings, there `are shown two pieceparts 83 and 8S which may be permanently assembled prior to dip-brazing by the staking press shown in the other figures. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the piecepart 83 may be a iiange and the piecepart 85 a waveguide. The ange 83 is provided with a shoulder S4 having `a recess 88 formed therein.

Referring to FIG. 8, ythe ange 83 and the waveguide 8S are shown during a staking operation. Prior to this operation, an operator places the flange 813 on a mandrel 31. rThe waveguide S5 is then placed on the mandrel so that the sides of the waveguide are received in the recess 88 o-f Ithe ilange 83. A plurality of staking tools 44 are then advanced to the left in FIG. 8, whereby the tips 81 of the tools engage a surface S12 (FIG. l1) of the flange 83. As the tools are advanced further to the left, a plurality of strips 89 (FIGS. 8 and 12) are deformed by |hte tips 81 toward the surfaces 9i)- lof the waveguide. The strips 39 are forced into the waveguide whereby the ange is permanently assembled .to the waveguide prior to dip brazing.

Referring to FIG. l, a frame 11 is shown supported on legs 12 that are provided with wheels 13 for movement on a supporting surface 14. A shelf 15 is mounted between the legs 12 for supporting compressed air supply means 16. A second shelf 17 is also mounted between the legs 12 for supporting the press mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 1S, and a waveguide clamp 19.

The press 18 includes a frame having front and rear plates 22 and 23 (FIG. 2) ixed rigidly to the shelf 17. The plates 22 and 23` are maintained in parallel relationship by side panels 24 and :a top plate 25.

Referring to FIG. 6 a shaft 2S is shown ixedly mounted in and between the plates 22v and 23. An enlargemen-t 29 secured to the right end of the shaft 28 forms the press bed 39 and is provided for supporting the mandrel 31. A ram assembly is slidably mounted on shdt 28. The ram assembly is made up of -a cylinder 34, a shoulder 32 secured to the cylinder 34, guide rods 38, :and a ram, generally designated by the reference numeral 33, which is attached to .the cylinder 34 by guide rods 38. The bed 3G is surrounded by the ram 33, which is provided with means for supporting the staking tools 44 and is slidably mounted by the guide rods 38 in the front plate 2.2 for movement relative to the bed 30. The shoulder 32 is secured to the hollow cylinder 34 Ithat is keyed to the shaft 2S for lateral sliding movement thereon and against rotation relative thereto. When the cylinder 34 is moved laterally on the shaft 28, the shoulder 32 is advanced for sliding the guide rods 38 to move the ram 33 and thereby the rstaking tools 44 relative to the bed 3), thus the entire ram assembly moves as a single unit to move vthe too-ls relative to the bed.

Means for moving the ram assembly during the staking operation include a constant stroke air cylinder 74 which is pivotally mounted to the rear` plate 23 for driving a piston rod 71. The piston rod 71 drives a toggle linkage 68 that is pivotally anchored to xed supports 69 and 7G. Pins 64 provide a `driving connection between the toggle linkage 68 and a collar 66 (FIG. 6). Projections 57 extending from an annular ring 65 are received in the collar 66 and in a nut 61 for permitting the nut to be rotated relative to the collar. The projections 57 prevent lateral movement of the nut 61 relative to the collar so that the collar 66 may move the nut laterally.l A second annular ring 63 is mounted on the left end of the nut 61 as shown in FIG. 6. Projections 67 formed on the ring 63 are received in the nut 61 and in a bearing support 62 for permitting the nut to be rotated relative to the bearing support while preventing lateral movement of the nut relative thereto. The bearing support 62 is slidably mounted on the shaft 28 for supporting the left end of the nut 61. The nut 61 is threaded onto a screw portion 6l) formed in the hollow cylinder 34 (FIG. 6).

When the constant stroke air cylinder 74 is actuated, the toggle linkage 68 will be advanced into the extended T-shaped position shown in FIG. 3. The linkage 68 will thereby advance the pins 6'4 and therefore the collars 66 a predetermined distance to the left, as shown in FIG. 6. Advancement of the collar 66 to the left also causes the ring 65, the nut 61, the ring 63, and the bearing support 62 to be advanced to the left. The nut 61, being in threaded engagement with the screw portion 60 provided on the hollow cylinder 34, will advance the cylinder 34 and 4thus the ram Iassembly to the Ileft as shown in FIG. 6. Movement of the ram assembly advances the ram 33 and the staking tools 44 :to the left for performing -the staking operation above referred to. When the air cylinder 74 is reversed for advancing the piston rod 71 to the left, the toggle linkage 68 will move into the collapsed position shown in FIG. 2. The collar 66 and nut 61 will thereby cause the hollow cylinder 34, the ram 33, and the ltools 44 to be advanced to the irght, ras shown in FIG. 6r. In this manner, by alternately extending and collapsing the toggle linkage, the staking tools 44 may be reciprocated through a predetermined distance relative to the bed 30.

When the air cylinder 74 is at rest and the toggle linkage 63 is in the collapsed position shown in FIG. 2, the collar 66 will be prevented from moving laterally because the air cylinder 74 and the piston rod 71 cooperate to prevent the toggle linkage 63 from moving. Thus, the collar y66, by means of the interlocking projections 57 and 67 provided on the rings 65 and 63, will prevent the nut 61 and the bearing 62 lfrom moving laterally relative to the shaft 2S. It is to be noted, however, that while the nut 61 is held in such fixed lateral position, the projections S7 and 67 provided on the rings 63 and `47 that rotates with the handle. Alever mechanism 52 are provided in the handle 45 for 4 permit the nut to be'rotated relative to the collar 66 and the bearing 62.

Means are provided for rotating the nut 61 relative to the collar 66 to adjust the position of the hollow cylinder 34 relative to the shaft Z8 and thereby adjust the ram assembly and the rest position of the tools 44- relative to the bed 313 (FIG. 6). Such means include a knob 79 (FIG. 2) mounted on a shaft 77 that is rotatably supported in a bracket "78 (FIG. 6). A worm gear 76 is keyed to the shaft 77 and meshes-with a gear '75 that is xed to the nut 61. When the nut 611 is held by the collar 66 at the fixed lateral posit-ion referred to above, the knob 79 may be rotated for rotating .the worm gear '76. Rotation of the worm gear '76 rotates the gear 75 and thereby the nut 61. The nut 61, being prevented from moving laterally, rotates at the xed lateral position whereby a lateral force is imparted by the threads of the nut to the screw portion 6th provided on the hollow cylinder 34. Because the hollow cylinder 34 is keyed against rotation relative to the shaft 28, rotation of the nut 61 laterally advances the hollow rcylinder 34 relative to the shaft 28. The ram 33 and the staking tools 44 are thereby moved or, in other words, the rest position of the ram assembly and the staking tools is adjusted relative to the bed 30.

It is apparent then, that an operator may selectively rotate the knob 79 either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and thereby rotate the nut 61 for adjusting the rest position of the staking tools 44 to the left or to the right as shown in FIG. 6.

The means provided on the ram 33 for supporting the staking tools 44 include a tool support plate 3S (FIGS. 4 and 5). A pair of tool carriers 39 are slidably mounted on the tool support plate 35 within guideways 4@ formed by gibs 41. The tool carriers 39 slide within the gibs 41 and right angles to each other an-d converge at the closed position shown in FIG. 4. A pair of staking tools 44, shown in detail in FIG. 8, is Imounted to each of the tool carriers 39 for engaging adjacent sides of the flange 83 during the staking operation. A handle 45 is mounted for rotation on a bearing pin 46 that is threaded into the vtool support plate 35. Mounted between the handle 45 and the tool support plate 35 and on the pin 46 is a gear Pins 48 and 49 and locking lor preventing rotation of the handle when the pin 49 is received in an aperture 53 formed in the front plate 22. When the pin 48 is pressed upward as shown in FIG. 9, the lever 52 pivots to remove the pin 49 from the aperture 53, thus permitting the handle 45 to be rotated to rotate the gear 47. A second `gear 54 meshes with and Iis rotated by the gear 47. Racks 55 and 56 mounted on adjacent sides of the tool carriers 39 mesh with the gears 47 and 54, respectively, for advancing the tool carriers in the `gibs 41. Rotation of the handle 45v counterclockwise into the position shown in FIG. 5 advances the tool carriers into an open position whereupon an operator trnay place the flange 83 and the waveguide 85 on the mandrel 3-1 as above described. Subsequent clockwise rotation of the handle into the position shown in FIG. 4 advances the tool carrier into a closed or staking position. In this position the pin 49 of the locking mechanism is biased by a spring 59' Iinto the aperture 53 for locking the handle and therefore the tool carriers in the staking position.

Referring to FIG. 1l, the width of the flange 33 is designated by the reference letter W. In flanges pro- Vduced Iby known methods, such as die casting, the width W may vary from a desired dimension, for example onehalf inch, within certain standard tolerances, such as plus or minus one-eighth inch. With this in mind, reference may be had to FIG. 8 which shows the results of performing a staking operation on a ange having the desired one-half inch dimension W given in the example above. During `such operation, the constant stroke air cylinder 714 has advanced the cutting tools 44 front a predetermined rest position through a constant staking stroke into the position shown wherein the tips 31 are embedded in the flange a predetermined amount. The tips 81 of the cutting tools 44 have forced the strips 89 into the outer surface 90 of the waveguide 85 without forcing the strips through the waveguide wall and into the mandrel 31. An ideal result is thereby obtained, the inner wall of the waveguide not being damaged and the ange and waveguide securely assembled as a :result of the staking operation.

If the width W of the flange 83 had been at the upper tolerance limit, five-eighths of an inch in the example given above, and the tools 44 advanced from the same predetermined rest position through the same constant staking stroke, the tips S1 would have been embedded in the flanges more than the predetermined amount. As a results, the tips 811 would have forced excessively large strips S9 into and through the walls of the waveguide, thereby ruining the wave-conducting characteristics of the inner walls of the waveguide `85.

Conversely, if the width W of the flange 83 was at the lower limit, three-eighths of an inch in the example, and the tools 44 had been advanced from the same rest position lthrough the same constant stroke, the tips 81 would have been embedded in the `flange less than the predetermined amount and therefore would not have deformed the strips 81 enough to permanently assemble the ange and the waveguide.

In order to insure that the staking apparatus will embed the cutting tips 81 the same predetermined amount Iin all flanges having widths W that are within standard tolerances, facilities are provided for adjusting the rest position o-f the ram 33 relative to the bed according to the width W of each flange to be staked. Such facilities may include (FIGS. 2 and 7) gaging means 93 mounted on the top plate v2,5 which permit the operator to simultaneously sense the width W of a flange 83 and to adjust the ram 33 accordingly. An arm 94 is rigidly attached to the hollow cylinder 34 of the ram assembly for operatively connecting the ram and the gaging means 93. The arm 94 projects through an aperture 95 formed in the top 25. A recessed member or receiving means 96 (FIG. 7) is provided on the upper extremity of the arm 94 for receiving a flange 83 (FIG. 2). Opposite to the receiving means 96, a plate 97 is slidably mounted on an L-shaped bracket 93. A shaft y99 slidable within both the bracket 98 and another bracket 1(11 is fixed to a boss 162 formed on the plate 97. A spring 103 mounted on the shaft 99 between the bracket 9S and the boss 1612 urges the plate 97 toward the receiving means 95 for holding the fla-nge against the receiving means. Ga-ging members or projections '.106 and 107 are fixed to the shaft 99 by means of `set screws 108 and .109, respectively. The projection .i106 may be adjusted on the shaft so as to engage the plunger 1110 of a switch 113 when the ram 33 is located with respect to the bed 36 at the desired rest position for the particular flange that is held in the receiving means 96. In a like man-ner, the projection 107 is positioned on the shaft 99 for engaging a plunger 114 of a second switch -115 when the ram 33 has been -advanced to the left as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 slightly past the desired rest position. Amber and red indicating lamps 116 and 117, respectively, shown in FIG. 7, are lit through control means 119 (FIG. l0) that are actuated by means of the switches X113 and i115, respectively.

When an operator desires to assemble a waveguide 85 and a flange 83 having a one-half inch width W, he first places the -liange between the receiving means 96 and the plate 97 (FIG. 7). The spr-ing 1(13` urges the plate 97 toward the receiving means 96 for holding the iiange in position. The receiving means 96 is held in a fixed position by the arm 94 which is fixed to the cylinder 34, the toggle linkage 68 and piston rod 71 serving t-o prevent lateral movement of the collar 66, the nut 61,

and the cylinder 34, as above mentioned. The operator may then rotate the knob 7 9 clockwise whereby the cylinder 34 is laterally advanced to the left through the rotation of the nut 61. Leftward advancement of the cylinder 34 similarly advances the arrn 94 lfor moving the receiving means 96 to the left to advance the fiange 83 and the plate 97 in the same direction. The plate 97 advances the shaft 99 to the left whereby the projection 106 engages the plunger 110 of the switch 113. The switch 113` is thereby closed for conditioning the control means 1-19 @for operation. The control means 119 lights a-n amber lamp .111-6 -for apprising the operator that the staking tools 44, which have also been advanced to the left relative to the bed 3U by the leftward advancement of the cylinder 34, are located at the predetermined rest position. If the operator should rotate the knob 79 clockwise t-oo much, and thereby advance the tools 44 past the desired rest position, the shaft 99 will advance the projection 107 into contact with the plunger y114 of the switch 115 and cause the control means 119 to light the red lamp 117. The operator must then rotate the knob 79' counterclockwise foradvancing the cylinder 34 to Ithe right, thereby moving the projection `-107 out of engagement with the plunger 114 and returning the tools 44 to the desired position.

Assume first that the operator desires to assemble a flange having a width W that equals ive-eighths of an inch, and second that the arm 94 and ram 33` are originally located at the same rest position as in the former instance in which a one-half inch flange was' gaged. It may then be observed that when the operator places the flange between the receiving means 96 and the plate 97, due to the one-eighth inch increase in fianige width W, the plate 97 will lbe originally positioned one-eighth inch further to the left (FIG. 7) than in the former instance. The shaft 99 will also be positioned one-eighth inch further to the left and may cause both of the projections V106 and 107 to engage the respective plungers 110 and 1:14. The control means 119 thereby lights both lamps 116 and 1117. The operator will then rotate the knob 79 counterclockwise to advance the arm 94 and the staking tools 44 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 until only the amber lamp 116 is lit. The tools 44 will thereby j be located at a rest position that is one-eighth inch to the right of the rest position for the one-half-inch flange so that the staking tool tips 81 will later be embedded in the five-eighth inch flange the same predetermined amount as they were embedded in the half-inch flange.

A similar procedure is followed to adjust the staking tools for operation on a three-eighth inch flange, whereby the lrestvposition of the tools 44 is located onequarter of an inch to the left of the rest position for a five-eighth inch flange.

After the staking -tools l44 have been adjusted according to the width W of the fiange to be staked, the operator removes the flan-ge from the lgaging means 93. He then may rotate the handle 45 cou-nterclockwise to expose the mandrel 31. The lflange and the waveguide are then mounted on the mandrel and the clamp =19 adjusted to firmly hold the waveguide in position on the mandrel. The handle 45 is then rotated clockwise for advancing the tools into the closed position. The control means 119 will then be fully conditioned for operating the press when the operator closes a switch i135 (FIGS. l3 and `10).

The control means 119 (FIG. `10) includes a main power `switch .122 connected across a power supply line. An indicating lamp 123 is connected in parallel with the switch 122 dorindicating when the switch i122 is closed and the power i-s on. When the staking tools 44 are located at the predetermined rest position, the projection 106 engages the plunger 110 and closes the contact 124 of the switch 113. A circuit may then be traced from the power line through the now closed contact 124 and through a latching relay 125 to ground. Energization of the relay 125 releases a ratchet 126 and draws up a contact 127. The contact i127 is drawn up for completing an indicating and control circuit that may be traced from the power supply line through the now closed contact 127 and through a rst parallel circuit, the rst leg of which Amay be traced through the amber indicating lamp 116 to ground. FIhus the a-mber lamp 116 indicates that the ram is correctly positioned.

If the operator has rotated the knob 79 clockwise too much during the ange-gaging and ram-adjusting operation, the projections i107 will engage the plunger 114 for moving the contact 130 to open a third leg of the irst parallel circuit and close a second leg thereof which may `be traced through a red indicating lamp 117. The lamp 117 thereby indicates that the knob 79 must be rotated counterclockwise for adjusting the staking tools to the right. When this is done, the projection 107 willfbe moved -out of engagement with the plunger 114 so that the contact 130* will open the second leg of the rst parallel circuit and close the third leg thereof.

The-third leg of the firs-t parallel circuit includes a normally open switch 131 and a second parallel circuit. When the Harige-gaging operation has been completed and the ilange and waveguide have been mounted on the mandrel 31, the operator rotates the handle 45 to move the staking tools into the closed position. The pin 49 (FIG. 9) will then advance the rod 157 in the aperture 55 to close a normally open contact 131 of the switch 132. The second parallel circuit will then be conditioned `for operation and a lamp 133 in the first leg thereof will be lit for indicating that the staking press is ready for operation. The operator may then close the switch 135 to complete the second leg of the second parallel circuit which may be traced through the now closed switch 135 and a solenoid 136 to ground. Energization of the solenoid 136 causes a valve (not shown) to admit air pressure to the air cylinder 74 from the air supply 16. The piston rod 71 is thereby advanced for ldriving the toggle linkage 68 and the ram 33 to perform a staking operation. -Movement of the toggle linkage 68 into the position shown in FIG. 3 advances 1a rod 138 connected to the ilinkage 68 into engagement with ya reversing switch 139 for closing a `normally open contact 141i. Closing lthe contact 14@ completes a circuit that may be traced from the power line through the now closed contact 140, to a parallel circuit including in one leg thereof a latching relay 141 and in the other leg a solenoid 142 to ground. When the solenoid 142 is energized, it moves the valve (not shown) for reversing the ilow of air pressure to the cylinder '74 to return the ram 33 to its rest position. Actuation of the latching relay 141 releases a ratchet 144 and draws up the contact 127 for opening the indicating and control circuit. In this manner, after a staking operation has been completed, the air cylinder 74 cannot be actuated to re-initiate the staking operation until the relay 125 is again energized by the adjustment of the rest position of the ram according to the width W of the next ange to be staked.

It may be noted that the ratchet 144 serves to hold the contact in position X (FIG. 10) even though the projection 106 does not hold the contact 124 closed after the ange S3 has been moved from the receiving means 96 for staking. Similarly, although the contact 140 is only momentarily positioned by the rod 13S :for energizing the relay 141, the contact 127 is held in position Y (FIG. l) by the ratchet 126 for preventing operation of the staking press prior to gaging a subsequent ange.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is simply illustrative of an application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, -which ill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

-1. In a press having a ram, means for driving the ram, means for holdin-g a piecepart, a single means for adjusting the rest position of the ram and for advancing the holding means to advance the piecepart, and means responsive to the advancement of the piecepart for conditioning the means for driving the ram for operation.

2. vIn a staking press having a bed, a ram, a staking tool mounted on the ram, and a ram adjustment mechanism `for locating the staking tool at a predetermined position relative to the bed, the combination with said press of means for advancing the ram, and means actuated by the ram adjustment mechanism 'for simultaneously indicating that the Itool is located at said predetermined position and conditioning the ram-advancing means for operation.

3. in a fabricating press comprising a frame, a bed fixed to the frame, a ram mounted for movement in said frame, means vfor adjusting the rest position of the ram relative to the bed, the combination with said press of means yincluding a normally open control circuit :for moving the ram, means movable with said ram during operation of said adjusting means for holding a piecepart, means responsive to movement of said holding means into a predetermined position for conditioning said control circuit for operation, and means for completing said conditioned control circuit to operate said ram moving means.

4. In a staking press having a bed,` a ram movable relative to the bed, staking tools mounted on the ram, means `for adjusting the rest position of the ram relative to the bed, and means for advancing the ram to perform a staking operation, the combination with said press of means actuated by the adjusting means for gaging la piecepar-t, and means operated by said gaging means for indicating the adjusted positio-n of the ram and conditioning the ram advancing means for operation.

5. In a staking press having a bed and a ram assembly, means including a normally open control circuit for moving the ram assembly, a piecepart holder connected to the ram assembly, means for adjusting the rest position of the ram assembly to advance a piecepart located lwithin said holder, a shaft movable in response to advancement of the workpiece, a switch operated by said shaft for conditioning Ithe control circuit for operation, and means for completing said conditioned control circuit to operate said ram assembly moving means.

6. lIn an assembly machine, a piecepart support, an assembly tool mounted `for movement relative to the piecepart support, means including a normally open control circuit for moving said assembly tool, a -latching relay having a normally `open contact provided in said control circuit, means lfor gaging a dimension of a piecepart, means responsive to said gaging means ascertaining that said dimension is of predetermined magnitude for energizing said latching relay to condition said control circuit for operation, means for completing said conditioned control circuit to operate said assembly tool moving means, and means operated by said assembly tool moving means lfor enengizing said latching relay to open said contact whereby cyclic roperation of said assembly tool means is prevented.

7. A staking press comprising a bed ffor supporting a pie'cepart, tools for staking the piecepart, a ram assembly slidable relative to the bed for moving the staking tools, means including a normally open switch and a control circuit [for advancing the ram assembly to move the tools into position to perform a staking operation, an arm xed to the ram assembly having a recess for receiving a piecepart, a spring-biased plate for holding the piecepart in said recess, a ramp assembly rest position adjustment mechanism for moving said arm to rnove a piecepart received in said recess against the force of said spring-biased plate, a shaft connected to said plate for movement in response to such piecepart movement, means advanced by movement of said shaft through a predetermined distance for closing said normally open switch to condition said control circuit for operation, and means amarla advanced by movement of said shaft through a distance greater than said predetermined distance fof precluding operation of said conditioned control circuit.

8. In a fabricating machine, a bed, a fabricating tool mounted tfor movement relative to the bed, means including a normally open control circuit for moving said fabricating tool, a device for gaging a dimension of a piecepart, irst means connected to the fabricating tool for supporting the piecepart in position to be gaged by said gaging device, means responsive to said `gaging device ascertaining that said dimension is of predetermined magnitude for conditioning said control circuit for operation, means for completing said conditioned control circuit to operate said fabricating tool moving means, and second means -for supporting the gaged workpiece for fabrication upon movement of the lfabricating tool.

9. In a press having a bed and a ram assembly, power means ifor operating the ram assembly, means mounted on the ram assembly -for holding a piecepart having a predetermined dimension, means operable independently of the power means for moving the ram assembly relative to the .bed through a predetermined distance to move said piecepart received in said holding means, yand means engaged by said moving piecepart for conditioning the power means for operation.

10. In a fabricating machine, -a trame, a ram Iassembly, fabricating tool `means mounted onthe ram assembly for movement relative to the frame, a device mounted on the frame for gaging a dimens-ion of la pieoepant, a drive mechanism including a normally open control circuit,

linking means connecting the drive mechanism to the fabricating tool means -for locating said tool means in a predetermined res-t position, an -arm secured to. the ram assembly for holding said piecepart in ygaging association with the `gafging device, means responsive to said gaging device ascertaining that the [dimension .is of a predeter mined magnitude for conditioning the control circuit for 'operatic-n, and means for mounting said piecepart for References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,921 Waldsrnith Apr. 22, 1941 2,446,621 Thiry Aug. 10, 1948 2,818,798 Deylcin Jan. 7, 1958 2,831,387 Ovshinsky Apr. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,111 Austria Dec. l5, 19013 

1. IN A PRESS HAVING A RAM, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE RAM, MEANS FOR HOLDING A PIECEPART, A SINGLE MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE REST POSITION OF THE RAM AND FOR ADVANCING THE HOLDING MEANS TO ADVANCE THE PIECEPART, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PIECEPART FOR CONDITIONING THE MEANS FOR DRIVING THE RAM FOR OPERATION. 